Formula 1 has a week off after three consecutive races between the French Grand Prix, the Austrian Grand Prix, and the British Grand Prix, which marked the first triple-header. While we wait for the next round of the season, let’s take a look at Sebastian Vettel and his journey during this very busy period, as reported by leading German automobile magazine Auto motor und sport.
“For us drivers three races in a row are the least stress. We just have to adapt our training. It is the worst for our mechanics!”
Scuderia Ferrari German driver Sebastian Vettel spent the Wednesday before the French Grand Prix still in the simulator in Maranello and then took a rented jet to fly to Le Castellet. Practical: he can land directly on the small airfield next to the circuit. Theoretically, he just had to walk across the street and check in at the Hotel du Castellet. But the hotel had raised the room prices for the Grand Prix week to 2500€ per night. That was even too much for a Formula One champion. He didn’t do that as a matter of principle.
Sebastian lived in the motorhome, which a friend drove to Le Castellet. But even there, the organizer wanted to grab the drivers deep into their pockets. Anyone who wanted to set up a motorhome on the grounds of the track would have had to pay 15000€! Therefore Vettel lived 8 kilometers from the circuit and took his motorcycle to commute between his motorhome and the circuit. On Sunday evening, he took the jet back to Zurich. Right on Monday, Sebastian with Kimi Raikkanen had a PR appointment in Maranello. On Tuesday back to Zurich, one day later flight to Spielberg. This time, the Ferrari star stayed at the hotel, about 15 minutes away from the circuit. He drove his Suzuki T500 to get to the circuit.
Once again, Sebastian Vettel planed an early escape from the Grand Prix on Sunday evening. The jet launched only 2 kilometers from the track away, from the old military airport called Zeltweg, where in 1964 the first GP Austria took place. After two days at home in Switzerland, on Wednesday his journey continued to Oxford. And from there to the large campsite (inside the circuit). For most GP drivers it is now tradition to sleep in their own motorhome during the British Grand Prix. The way to the paddock is only one kilometer. No traffic.
Sebastian Vettel had to celebrate his victory (British Grand Prix) on the island. On Monday he still had a PR appointment in England. The Ferrari driver guests in an episode on “Grand Tour”, one of the most popular TV shows about cars that can be accessed through the Amazon streaming service. For Scuderia Ferrari’s German driver, the triple header ended on Monday evening with his return journey to Zurich.
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